Out now: Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025

• US interdisciplinary strength is evidenced in the inaugural ranking as MIT takes the top spot 
• Asia and Africa demonstrate growing capability of new and emerging research regions, with Asia leading the way in terms of interdisciplinary outputs 
• Largest ever debut THE ranking (749 institutions and 92 countries) demonstrates the importance and enormous global appetite for interdisciplinary research 
• National University of Singapore, in third place, is highest ranked in Asia 
• US dominates top 10 with seven universities 
• Netherlands’ Wageningen University & Research, in seventh place, is top in Europe 
• Diverse top 100 features representation from every continent 
• India is the most represented country in the table with 65 universities ranked 
• RMIT University in Australia is number one for Oceania in 22nd place 
• In South America, Brazil’s University of São Paulo, leads in joint-57th place  
• Africa’s top ranked university is Egypt’s Cairo University at 39 
• In association with Schmidt Science Fellows, the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings was created to improve scientific excellence and collaboration across disciplines and aims to help universities benchmark their interdisciplinary scientific work 
• Crossing traditionally narrow academic disciplines is widely seen as an important new way to stimulate scientific breakthroughs and to help tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges 
• Schmidt Science Fellows works with the global scientific community to help break down barriers to interdisciplinary science  

US leads the way in inaugural Interdisciplinary Science Rankings  

The United States dominates the top of the pioneering new Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR) 2025, released today.  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology takes the number one spot and Stanford University is in second place, while in total the US occupies seven of the top 10 positions. 

In association with Schmidt Science Fellows, the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings was created to recognise, incentivise, and celebrate interdisciplinary science in higher education across the globe.   

Singapore’s National University of Singapore takes third place and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is in ninth position. Meanwhile, Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands is number seven, making it the highest ranked institution in Europe.  

California Institute of Technology, Duke University and University of Minnesota are in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively, while University of California, Santa Barbara is in eighth place and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor takes the tenth spot. 

Top 10 universities in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

In addition to the US, Asia proves that it is excelling in interdisciplinary science too. 

While Singapore is the only Asian nation to feature in the top 10, Hong Kong and China claim high ranks in the top 20. Hong Kong’s best ranked institution is University of Hong Kong in 13th place and China’s leading institution is Fudan University at 16.  

Asia is the most represented continent in the top 100 with 47 universities from 15 countries, while 103 Asian institutions feature in the top 200. Asia’s most represented countries in the top 100 are India and Saudi Arabia, with six universities each, followed by Hong Kong and Japan, with five each. 

Overall, Asia has 370 universities in the rankings, almost half of the total number of universities ranked, making it the most represented continent in the ISR by a long way. (Europe has 179, Africa has 78, South America, 60, North America, 57, and Oceania, 5.) 

Significant representation from all six continents in a very diverse ranking 

The ISR is THE’s biggest ever debut rankings with 749 universities ranked from 92 different countries. This reflects three years of consultation with the sector and the importance of and global appetite for interdisciplinary research. 

The top five universities all have a strong focus on engineering and technology. They also have interdisciplinarity woven into their DNA from undergraduate education to postgraduate  programmes and research centres. Their interdisciplinary aspirations are well supported in terms of funding and administrative support.

The incredibly diverse top 100 has representation from all six continents. Following Asia’s lead of 47 institutions in the top 100, Europe has the second highest number of universities at the top of the table with 24 ranked; followed by North America with 17, Africa with five, Oceania with four and South America with three. The top 200 follows a similar pattern: Asia leads with 103 universities, Europe has the second highest number with 51 institutions ranked, then North America with 24, Africa with 13, South America with six and Oceania with four. 

Nearly half of the total ranked institutions are from Asia and about a quarter are from Europe. Africa comes third, ahead of South America, North America and Oceania. 

Of the top 10 most-represented countries, six are from Asia, while Africa, Europe, North America and South America each take one spot. 

Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said: “The Interdisciplinary Science Rankings launch is the largest in the history of the global THE rankings, with 749 institutions across 92 countries ranked. This is down to the fantastic work that has been undertaken by THE working in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, and clearly demonstrates the importance and enormous global appetite for interdisciplinary research. 

“Universities worldwide are using interdisciplinary science to boost innovation and to make breakthrough discoveries that help to solve the world’s biggest challenges. This ranking stands as a testament to the skills, techniques and dedication from a broad range of scientific disciplines that drives this research forwards.  

“THE is delighted to bring this inaugural ranking to life, and hope that the ranking’s impetus for greater collaboration will support many more scientific breakthroughs in institutions across the world.”  

Schmidt Science Fellows is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. 

“Human curiosity has no boundaries, and science—the way we satisfy that curiosity—should be no different,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. “The universities in this inaugural Interdisciplinary Science Rankings are breaking down silos and creating new ways of pursuing knowledge, bringing us closer to transformative discoveries about ourselves and our universe.”   

“To answer the world’s toughest questions—whether it’s scaling fusion energy or advancing quantum computing—we need to think differently,” said Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. “The Interdisciplinary Science Rankings recognises universities that are advancing the practice of science for the next century and beyond through new institutions, emerging technologies, and effective teaching.” 

"This ranking marks a pivotal step in advancing interdisciplinary research worldwide providing institutions with insights to strengthen their own efforts and learn from leaders in the field," said Dr Megan Kenna, founding executive director of Schmidt Science Fellows. 

"By championing interdisciplinary science at the university level, we’re not only addressing today’s needs more effectively but also empowering future generations to innovate and tackle the challenges of tomorrow." 

North America 

On a country level, it is the United States that emerges as the undisputed leader at the top of the table with 16 universities in the top 100, more than any other nation. It also has the highest number of institutions in the top 200, with 21. 

Overall, 38 US institutions are ranked, making it the joint third most-represented country in the full ranking (behind India and Turkey and on a par with Russia).  

However, only three Canadian universities feature in the list and they all rank outside the top 100. Universities must opt in and submit data to be ranked, so this reflects a low participation rate from institutions in Canada. 

North America has 57 universities ranked. As well as the US and Canada, this includes Mexico with 15 institutions ranked, and Cuba with one. (See South America/Latin America section below). 

North America is the continent that achieves the highest average scores across all three pillars underpinning the methodology, when regions with at least 10 ranked universities are considered. 

Canadian universities in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

Europe 

In Europe, the 24 top-100 universities come from 11 countries. Italy has the highest number at the top of the table with seven institutions (behind only the US globally), followed by the Netherlands with four and Germany with three. Europe’s highest ranked universities are Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands in seventh place and Technical University of Munich in Germany in 12th place. 

Italy is the third most-represented country in the top 200, with 14 institutions (behind the US and India).  

Perhaps, surprisingly, the United Kingdom is only represented by five universities in the ISR overall and has just two universities in the top 100. This is in stark comparison to its performance in the THE World University Rankings as one of the best-performing countries. Universities must opt in and submit data to be ranked, so, as with Canada, this reflects a low participation rate from institutions in the UK. This could be explained by the UK’s tradition of focusing on pure science on the one hand and looking at applied science separately. 

Europe is the second-best continent for input scores (behind only North America). Italy is one of the top European performers for these metrics and ranks fifth globally. Meanwhile, Germany is top in Europe for outputs (and fourth globally). 

Overall, 179 European universities feature in the ranking, making it the second most-represented continent, behind Asia. 

Top 10 universities in Europe in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

Asia 

India boasts impressive representation in the THE ISR 2025 as the most represented nation in the table with 65 universities ranked. Its top-ranked institution is Anna University at 42. Turkey has the second highest number of universities ranked with 45 in total, and its highest placed university is Koç University in 41st place. 

India and Saudi Arabia each have six universities in the top 100, making them the third most-represented countries in this group, behind the US and Italy. India is second in the top-200 roll call with 15 universities.  

Asia is the second-best continent for output scores (behind only North America), with Hong Kong leading the region’s performance in this area.  

While Europe achieves a slightly higher average score than Asia for input scores, at a country level Asia dominates here, with Hong Kong, Taiwan and China taking up three of the top spots, when larger countries/territories are considered*. (*Larger refers to where there are 5 or more ranked institutions). 

Top 10 universities in Asia in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

=joint 

Africa 

Africa is making its mark at the top of the ISR. It’s number one university is Cairo University in Egypt in 39th place. Nigeria is also in the top 100 with Covenant University at 73. 

Five other African nations are represented in the top 200 of the table: Egypt (seven institutions in top 200), Morocco (three), Ghana (one), Nigeria (one) and Tunisia (one). 

There are five African universities in the top 100 and 13 in the top 200.  

Overall, Africa has 78 institutions ranked in the ISR, making it the third most-represented continent, behind Asia and Europe. This means that around one tenth of places in the ranking are claimed by African institutions (for comparison, 6.5 per cent of places in the THE World University Rankings are taken by African institutions). 

Egypt is the most represented country in Africa, and the seventh most represented nation globally, with 27 institutions.  

Africa matches Europe when it comes to output scores. 

Top 10 universities in Africa in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

=joint 

Oceania 

Just five Australian universities are ranked in the THE ISR 2025, while New Zealand does not feature at all. RMIT University in Australia leads Oceania at 22. 

Three of the Australian universities are ranked in the top 30, while another is just outside the top 50. Australia achieves the highest average overall score, the second highest output score and the fourth highest input score among countries in the ranking. 

Australian universities in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

 South America / Latin America 

Overall, 60 South American universities are ranked – more than the number in North America. This means that 8 per cent of spots in the ranking are claimed by South American institutions (for comparison, 6.7 per cent of places in the THE World University Rankings are taken by South American institutions). 

Eight South American countries feature in the ranking. Brazil is the most represented of these, and the ninth most represented globally, with 24 institutions. 

South America’s top institution is Brazil’s University of São Paulo in 57th place. Latin America’s top university is Mexico’s National Autonomous University of Mexico at 54th. 

South America is the continent with the lowest average scores in all three pillars. 

Top 10 universities in LATAM in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 

=joint 

About ISR – helping universities achieve scientific excellence 

The ranking, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, provides universities with a benchmark of their interdisciplinary science work by measuring university performance in three areas: inputs (funding); process (measures of success, facilities, administrative support and promotion); and outputs (publications, research quality and reputation). A link to the methodology is included in the notes to editors at the bottom of this release.  

Earlier in 2024, THE launched a survey asking experienced, published academics across the world for their views about their own research and their institutions’ interdisciplinary research in science subjects. It also asked them to name up to five institutions that they believed were the best in supporting interdisciplinary research between science subjects. Some of the results of this survey have been used to partially inform the outputs pillar of the ISR. The ranking also draws on institutional data provided directly by universities, as well as bibliometric data. 

View the full Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 results and see the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 methodology.